“We have been to a couple of church services here, so it has been really good. People sort of know that we are around here at Cranleigh School. We couldn’t ask for a better set up for us.”

The former club captain added: “Cranleigh School has a high profile and prestige, yet it has shown us how grounding rugby can be. We feel blessed to have been able to experience this, we could not have asked for better.

“The hospitality of Cranleigh School has exceeded our expectations. It feels like we are home. This has been helped by the staff, who have been excellent and have added to that home-away-from-home feeling.”

The national side held an opening training session and press briefing at the school yesterday ahead of heading up leaving today and heading abroad before returning for the tournament next month.